793.94/6857: Telegram
The Counselor of Legation in China (Peck) to the Secretary of State
[Received February 4—6:10 a.m.]
22. 1. An American adviser has confidentially outlined to Atcheson42 the following dark picture drawn from conversations with important figures in Chinese Government and political life: There is no question that Japan is determined to dominate the Chinese affairs and will succeed and there is already evident swing in sentiment among many influential Chinese in Govermnent tending toward antiforeignism with respect to Americans and Europeans; that only three Chinese leaders know the exact nature of Japanese proposals—Chiang Kaishek, Madam Chiang and one other informant could not name; that Japanese proposals together with financial crisis and what informant called foredoomed face [fate?] of Szechwan anticommunist campaign have placed Chiang in inextricable position; and that capitulation to Japanese will lead to his downfall and probably assassination with chaos in China the result.
2. I feel above is basically true but perhaps overpessimistic.
- George Atcheson, Jr., Second Secretary of Legation in China.↩